Judge bans man from town after threats

A man convicted of threatening to kill RCMP officers and “everyone” in Russell is now banned from being in that town.

Albert Dean Crampton was expected to be released from custody on Thursday after being sentenced to time served for the threats and other offences.

However, Judge Krystyna Tarwid fashioned a probation order which she said was intended to help Crampton address his mental health issues and protect the public.

“I can’t keep you in jail forever because you have issues … What I’m concerned about is what you might do in the future,” Tarwid said.

Specifically, Crampton was sentenced for assaulting a peace officer, two counts of uttering threats and two counts of breach of probation.

It all stemmed from a run-in he had with RCMP in Russell on Jan. 30.

Police had followed him to the home of his friend, a home on a list of properties he was banned from.

Crampton was on two probation orders at the time and police tried to arrest him on the premise that he’d breached the “keep the peace” orders by trespassing.

Crampton got in a scuffle with officers during his arrest and uttered a series of comments which police considered alarming.

During a Sept. 24 trial, one officer quoted Crampton as saying: “I can’t wait to come back here to kill all you cops,” “Just wait till I kill everyone in this town,” and “People in Russell are going die because of you.”

Following trial, Tarwid dismissed a Petty Trespasses Act charge against Crampton because he had “implied consent” from the tenant to be at the home.

There was also a chance that he hadn’t realized that the home was on the list of properties he was banned from because the copy he was given didn’t include addresses.

Although his arrest on the breach of the peace conditions was unlawful, Tarwid ruled, it wasn’t a breach or serious breach of Crampton’s rights.

The judge convicted him of the threats, breaches and assault peace officer charges.

Crampton had been denied bail and, as of sentencing on Thursday, he’d spent nearly 10 months in custody since the incident.

Crown attorney Ron Toews acknowledged it would be difficult for him to argue for more jail time, and defence lawyer Dan Manning said his client had been in custody long enough.

Manning said Crampton moved to Manitoba from Ontario in 2011, and things were going well for him in Russell.

Manning said Crampton had mental health issues, which the lawyer didn’t specify.

Things took a bad turn for Crampton when ran afoul with the law, was laid off and stopped taking anti-psychotic medication which helped with his moods and enabled him to sleep.

Crampton is now back on his medication and feels he has more self-control, Manning reported.

Tarwid sentenced Crampton with nine months and 22 days time served, which means he was free as of Thursday.

He’ll now be on the following probation conditions for two years, as crafted by Tarwid who noted that Crampton had reportedly threatened to kill people while at the Brandon jail.

He’s to live where directed by probations services, and there was an indication that he may live in Oak River.

Crampton, 34, is also to take mental health and anger management counselling as directed.

Tarwid noted that the court doesn’t have the authority to force Crampton to take medication, but she ordered him to provide probation with proof that his prescription is being filled.

He also can’t be within the town limits of Russell, unless he’s driving through on Highway 16 and even then he’s not to stop.

In addition, he can’t have guns or weapons while on probation, and is banned from having firearms for life.

Crampton, meanwhile, maintains that he’d done nothing wrong and blamed the incident on police, suggesting he was being harassed.

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A man convicted of threatening to kill RCMP officers and “everyone” in Russell is now banned from being in that town.

Albert Dean Crampton was expected to be released from custody on Thursday after being sentenced to time served for the threats and other offences.